Dem Ohio senator may seek secretary of state's job

COLUMBUS — A Democratic state lawmaker and critic of Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted confirmed today that she is considering running to become Ohio’s next chief elections official.

Sen. Nina Turner, from the Cleveland area, hasn’t committed to challenging Husted in 2014 but did say she’s thinking about the secretary of state’s office.

Turner has served in the Ohio Senate since 2008 and is eligible to run for another term in two years. Before her Senate service, she was a Cleveland city councilwoman.

Turner has voiced criticism in recent months of Husted’s election-related directives and, in August, introduced a bill requiring counties to offer a minimum number of early-voting hours, with extended evening and weekend opportunities to cast ballots.